Terrorists Taking Over: SOKAPU Reveals Why El-Rufai Is Crying Foul

The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) has said that it understand why Governor Nasir Elrufai is now crying foul over the grim story of terrorists taking over the State.

It also said that the area that has now become ungovernable space in Kaduna state is about the size of Abia state, stressing that this is the grim story of Governor Elrufai’s new ‘Kaduna State’.

The Union particularly noted that El-Rufai has never demonstrated empathy for the hundreds of thousands victims of the terrorists by way of any form of assistance, but has at least, once taken the trouble of combing the killer herdsmen in their various countries in West Africa and paid them “compensation” to appease their taste for blood.

SOKAPU further said that with the benefit of other recent revelations or admissions made on how the state presently found itself where it is, stressing that while El-Rufai was using insecurity to grab and consolidate his power and authority, he rationalized it, defended and appeased the terrorists.

The Union also said that even now that El-Rufai power, authority, leadership qualities and reputation are being rubbished, he is still only paying lip service to the primary responsibility of government which is the security and welfare of peace loving citizens.

It therefore said that it regarded the belated alarm the Kaduna State governor is raising as the shedding of crocodile tears, stressing that this is because in his administration, priorities are totally different as he does not put his money where his mouth is.

These were contained in a statement by the acting president of SOKAPU, Mr. Awemi Dio Maisamari, who noted that El-Rufai only made a belated and unfortunate admission that terrorists have taken over the state and are forming parallel governments.

In the words of Maisamari; “This admission is a confirmation of the various alarms that were continuously raised by SOKAPU and Southern Kaduna community development associations since 2019. It should be recalled that in reaction to these alarms, the Kaduna State government once challenged anybody to name any communities that had been taken over and occupied by terrorists.

“In response to that challenge, SOKAPU has variously reeled out more than one hundred communities that had been displaced and some occupied in Southern Kaduna only way back in 2000.

“This number has since increased and it is now almost impossible to keep tract. Beside atrocities committed during attacks, other unspeakable crimes and acts of barbarism daily perpetrated in occupied communities are better imagined than experienced. If only the terrorists had limited themselves to strictly enforcing their own brand of civil and criminal laws, that would have been a bit bearable.

“But we now have a situation whereby most rural communities are daily patrolled by well-armed marauding herdsmen and allied terrorists to stamp and enforce their authority. Once that is done, they then embark on widespread abductions, forced labour, systematic extortion, outright enslavement, widespread sexual harassment, confiscation of food, other valuables, dehumanization, merciless brutality, torture, killings of innocent locals who show any sign of lack of cooperation or resistance to the occupiers.

“Consequently, most affected rural communities are deserted. That is the lot of rural villages in Kaduna State especially in Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia, Zangon Kataf, Kauru, Lere, Birnin Gwari and Giwa Local Governments,” he said.

SOKAPU stressed that the ugly reality the people of Kaduna State have had to endure under El-Rufai’s reign is that protecting lives, jobs and securing livelihoods are treated as an obstacle to grandiose elitist projects and programs.

It further said; “What else did Elrufai mean when he said the payment of salaries is not a priority of his government? Following from this warped logic, in Kaduna State, urban renewal which is a code name for demolition of houses, shops, businesses and construction of modern markets and a few streets have become the primary occupation of his government.

“Terrorists have been allowed to declare and wage a sustained war on Nigeria especially in Kaduna State. Governor El-Rufai’s state government in collaboration with its federal counterpart only facilitate random and intermittent military actions against terrorists just for public relations purposes.

“The end result is that Nigeria in general and Kaduna state in particular have become a huge ungoverned space. Government and governance has lost credibility and legitimacy if it cannot protect lives and property of citizens.

“But El-Rufai’s is still managing to parade himself as a Governor in safe corridors created by multiple security cordons. Meanwhile, most people even in the state capital of Kaduna have been abandoned to play cat and mouse with terrorists,” SOKAPU said.

In view of the foregoing, SOKAPU expressed dismay and disbelief at the self-righteous alarm of Governor el-Rufai over the embarrassing leadership failures that culminated in the present security, economic and political nightmares.

In the words of SOKAPU; “We refuse to belief that Nigeria or Kaduna state has been overwhelmed. This is because civil authorities at various levels have deliberately refused to invoke effective and extra political, legal and security measures to arrest the continuously deteriorating situation. Neither have military authorities created and deployed ingenious strategies that fit the situation.

“War has not been formally declared on terrorists of all hues in all localities. Neither has there been extra security and military mobilization including military reserves if available.

“Curiously, government has also refused to authorize, support and empower peace loving and law abiding citizens to defend themselves and their communities. SOKAPU noted that in spite of the grim situation, the Kaduna State government has continued to withhold parts of Local Government allocations supposedly to finance security operations.

It said; “This is no longer acceptable because it amounts to transferring security responsibilities to Local Governments through the back door. The Governor has been rightly complaining of being rendered ineffective as the chief security officer of the state. It is therefore unfair for him to also do the same to Local Government Chairmen by starving them of funds.

“We call on the Governor to redirect his often strong but misguided political will to truly prioritize the security and welfare of Kaduna State citizens. Let him start thinking and acting out of the box like South Western Governors through Amotekun or Governor Ortom of Benue State through his Community Volunteer Guards. Enough of sensational rhetorics without appropriate actions,” SOKAPU stressed.